I respect persons who fight for what they believe in-- especially for animals who have NO VOICE and CANNOT FIGHT FOR THEIR RIGHTS-- and who do not say or do things for personal interests, or to keep connections for possible future use. Thank you Itty Gaerlan for this: My reply to Ninna Castillo: 1. It comes down then to the demeanor of Save ALL that brought about the ban. What about Ms. Linda Hernandezs earlier explanation that Save ALLs presence in the pound is not covered by a formal MOA? And that the group did not undergo bidding? And that there are two other NGOs the Cainta LGU is collaborating with, which makes Save ALLs presence in the pound awkward? What were those-- broadsides from a irate functionary? Demeanor--is this the final, final answer of the Cainta LGU? 2. And since youve lectured Save ALL on its demeanor here and in several other places of this page, allow me please my take on this as well. As you can gather from the numerous posts on this page, the volunteers found the pound staff inept, or too indifferent--a finding that applies to just about any given task--whether thats feeding the dogs, or cleaning, medicating or socializing them; or basic housekeeping of the pound. i.e., washing the kennels, removing the feces, ensuring the kennels are safe, and not injurious, to the dogs. There too is the mind-boggling failure of prompt burial of cadavers strewn about the pound for days. Then there are the special cases--the incredibly emaciated and severely sick dogs that Save ALL had to rush to the vet at the first instance. It was at that point when we beheld the deplorable conditions of the pound that many of us realized the pound was really nothing more than a disposal facility of Caintas strays where the dogs are left to die as quickly or slowly as their constitutions permit. The photos scattered about the page speak for themselves. Save ALLs six-week insertion in the pound inevitably increased the tasks of a pound staff that did not mask its resentment about this. I might add, some in the staff were as transparent with their displeasure with the additional work as they were with their impatience to clock out at 3 p.m. The stakes were easy enough for Save ALL to appreciate that the group could not be bothered with the niceties. Ones drive to save as many dogs as possible is anothers woeful reminder of her provinces inertia. Ones yabang is anothers zeal. There is a more graphic way to put it: On the left side of the scale, the pound staff and managers amor propio; on the right, the dogs survival. For the Save ALL community, really, no contest there. 3. But the pound staff suffered Save ALLs presence for a good six weeks. What really broke the camels back? Ms. Hernandezs Do-not-delete post itself answers this: Save ALLs insistent call for a moratorium on the capture of strays. You say you are a dog lover yourself, Ms. Castillo. You therefore understand the risks involved in the management of both distemper and leptospirosis--especially in a pound that never bothered to check the dogs for diseases, much less isolate the infected ones. In addition, as a responsible pet owner, you know too that because leptospirosis is zoonotic --that is, a dog can pass this not only to other dogs but also to humans--such a moratorium has to be put into effect for the publics general safety. As long as safeguards are in place, such a moratorium need not be juxtaposed as contrary to the responsibility of keeping a populace protected from rabies. Obviously, however, there are those who stand to lose once a moratorium on capturing strays is declared. One dogs reprieve is a disenfranchised traders loss? I would also caution the Cainta LGU against thinking in dualities or binaries--in this case, dogs vs. people--and of assuming people to be more important than anything else on this planet. It is precisely such anthropocentrism that has pushed this planet on the verge of collapse. We know now that the hierarchization of interests is not only fallacious but perilous--for our entire planet, even. We have a better understanding now of the circle of life, of the interconnectedness of every species, of the integrity of every part and parcel of creation. All these concepts may sound far and away for some, but not to a leader with the vision to solve the challenges of today yet with an eye to a more viable tomorrow. 3. Let me respond to two of your suggestions: a formal letter and working through other advocacy groups. Maybe you have encountered a thread in this page on Ms. Desiree Carlos account that she was informed of the ban on the same morning she had just finished writing a report to the Cainta mayor. But sometimes you encounter people--even people in authority--who wont bother with due process and wont think to hear you out before declaring your presence non grata. And sometimes you encounter more judicious ones. Cest la vie. Heres the rub, Ms. Castillo. If it were up to me, I would chalk up Save ALLs experience with the Cainta pound to lessons in why one should stay away from double-speaking bureaucrats who will, for example, profess a goal like a no-kill pound, yet refuse to invest in this, including enrolling the rest of his organization into this. That road is fraught with risks and accidents, at best; failure and betrayal, at worst. Perhaps the idea of a Memorandum of Agreement was correct after all in that this would have ensured everyone was on the same page. By the same token, the absence of an MOA allowed the parties involved in the upkeep of these dogs--or neglect, as the case may be--to go on their merry way. Hindsight is always 100% accurate. But thats me. You have read for yourself the posts of the other Save ALL members, especially the ones who personally spent time with the Cainta pound dogs and got to pet and hug them. They are beside themselves with worry over the welfare of these dogs. I am sure many of them are prepared to do whatever it takes--eat humble pie, too--to save those dogs. Isnt that wonderful? I flat out disagree with your suggestion, however, that Save ALL work with other animal welfare groups to be able to continue helping the Cainta pound dogs. Not only does that suggest deception. It is also in violation of the principle of collegiality that governs the local animal welfare community where the different groups respect and observe one anothers distinct mandates and/or spheres of action. I hope I have reciprocated the diligence of your various posts. I have one request, however, Ms. Castillo: if you are replying specifically to a post of mine on this page, and not someone elses, kindly tag me as I tagged you. That way, my navigation to your response and ability to reply to it, where needed, isnt left to chance. Salamat and a blessed Sunday. -------------------------------------------------- My (Desiree here) personal note: 1. My report to the Mayor was overtaken by events. Some persons apparently told the Mayor their version of what they think transpired. Sad to say, the Mayor did not get our side. I decided to post the report to the Mayor as a letter to the public here. Will bump it so others can read it. 2. Last Sunday, there were no pound staff when Doc Mace, Joy, Rachielle, Noriel and I went there. 3. They started painting the cages blue on Oct. 10, a Monday. As of Oct. 27, a volunteer saw a pound staff still painting the cages. The dogs organs are already weak due to illnesses like erlichia, leptospirosis and distemper. But they were not placed in an area far enough so they wont inhale the smell of paint. Even I coughed and felt a heaviness in my chest for days when I was exposed to it when I went there. I used to go every Thursday and one or two more days during the week, depending on the needs of the dogs. 4. By the way, I never saw Ms. Linda Hernandez go there during the six weeks I went there, nor Ms. Fely Abrenica, who introduced herself as the pound assistant. Volunteers saw Ms. Abrenica go there twice at close to 5 p.m. But Ms. Heranndez was seen by volunteers in the pound itself only last Tuesday, Oct. 28, when she said Save ALLs presence there was illegal because we did not go thru bidding and had no Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). She also asked our volunteers if they were being paid or not, the point of which still escapes me to this day. Ms. Hernandez was again seen the following day when she informed our volunteers verbally, NOT IN A LETTER, that Save ALL is banned from the PUBLIC POUND which is inside the PUBLIC CEMETERY. Photo 1: schedule of staff posted at the pound office Photo 2: state of cages before sept. 26, first day of Save ALL feeding. we suggested the cages be painted to avoid tetanus. we were glad they did start painting the cages. we dint know we were interfering with pound operations when we made suggestions. Photo 3: Tigress or dog with mange before she met volunteer Kryndall Garcia Photo 4: Tigress, still with mange, but no longer just lying there hopeless, but happy to be loved and accepted, by Kryndall, mange and all. The mange flare-up was also reduced, thanks to the two antibiotic shots given by vets from Mace clinic.
Posted on: Sun, 02 Nov 2014 14:19:02 +0000
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